Stamp holder



May 9, 1939. I w. BETZ 2,157,226

' STAMP HOLDER Filed Feb. 20, 19:57

INVENTOR:

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAMP HOLDER William Betz, Elizabeth, N. J.

Application February 20, 1937, Serial No. 126,936

3 Claims.

My invention relates to a stamp holder of a type which may be employed for gripping a stamp or similar sheet for the purpose of inspection, or otherwise, and it consists in the constructions,

arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is the cardinal purpose of the invention to provide a holder in the form of a pair of tweezers and in which a gravity-actuated locking means secures the gripping fingers upon the stamp or sheet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a structure of extreme simplicity in construction and assembly.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the holder.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device in open position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device in open position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device in closed position.

9 Figure 5 is an elevation of a modified form of locking device.

Figure 6 illustrates the locking member, the elements being in a separated state.

There is illustrated a holding device, generally indicated at II) which comprises a pair of gripping fingers or arms I I, arranged in parallel relation and abutting each other at one end, where they are secured by a small bolt or rivet I2, the free ends of the arms H terminating in flat 35 broadened jaws l3, for a purpose as Will presently appear.

Each of the arms II are slightly bowed, and normally assume a position spaced from each other at their free ends. Intermediate the 40 lengths of the arms H, a slot I4 is formed, ex-

tending longitudinally thereof and diametrically opposite each other, and slidably mounted in these slots there is a locking means l5, as will now be described.

45 The locking means I5 is composed of a threaded pin [6, the threads extending throughout the length thereof and upon each end thereof are nuts ll. The nuts I! include a flanged head [8 of a diameter greater than the slot so that when the locking means is positioned in the slot the heads l8 will be in bearing contact with the sides of respective arms H.

A handle portion I9 is provided for each arm, being suitably shaped for symmetrical appearance, and comfort in use, being positioned upon the outer face of respective arms and secured thereto at one end by the bolt l2, the handles being suitably countersunk to accommodate the heads of the bolt. The handles l9 are of a length slightly greater than half the length of the arms II, and adjacent their terminations, the handles are apertured, as are the arms II, and in the aligned apertures there are respective screws 20. The stems 2| of the screws project beyond the inner faces of the arms, toward each other and act as a stop means for limiting the inward flexing of the arms. It should be noted that the inner faces of the handles I9 are undercut as at 22 to accommodate the heads I8 of the locking device.

In use, assuming that the holder is in open position, a light pressure is exerted upon the handles in a direction against the curvature of the arms. With the holder in an inclined or vertical position it will be seen that the locking device l5 Will slide downwardly, by action of gravity, until it has reached the terminations of the slots Hi. Pressure is now released and the arms II will be held in such locked position and firmly hold a stamp therebetween without liability of damage to the stamp. To release the stamp from the jaws I3, pressure is again exerted upon the handles, sufficiently to permit the locking device IE to slide to the opposite ends of the slots. The projecting portions of the screws 2| will abut, beyond a certain flexing of the spring arms ll limiting further movement.

In Figure 5 the locking device comprises a head 23, an integral stud 24, the outer end of which has a reduced portion 25. A washer 26 is positioned upon the reduced portion, the outer end being peened to secure the washer to the stud.

While I have described the device as a stamp holder, it will be apparent that it is susceptible to use as an ordinary tweezer, and While a preferred form has been shown and described and modifications indicated, I consider as my own all such variations in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of bowed spring arm members arranged in parallel relation and connected at one end, each of said arm members having a longitudinal slot, a headed member positioned in each slot, said members being internally threaded, a threaded stem member engaged with the threads of the headed members and connecting the same, the heads of the member engaging the outer faces of the arm members, said headed members being movable along the slot under action of gravity upon compression of the spring arms, and handle portions on the arm members, said handles having cut away portions for accommodation of the headed members.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of bowed spring arm members arranged in parallel relation and in contacting relation at one end, handle members on the arm members, fastening means extended through the handles and arm members at a point of their contact, fastening means for the handles and arms at a point adjacent the other extremity of the handles, the last named fastening means projecting 15 through the arm members and in alinement with each other, whereby to limit compression of the handles, each of said arm members having a longitudinally extended slot, a headed member in each slot, the headed members having a stud, said studs having a threaded bore, a threaded stem engaged through alined bores and connecting the headed members, said headed members being longitudinally movable along the slots by action of gravity upon compression of the spring arms, and said handle members having cut away portions adjacent the slot of each arm member.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the free ends of the arm members terminate in flat broadened portions. 

